Thrive Through the Five: Practical Truths to Powerfully Lead through Challenging Times

by Jill Siler

If we truly want to be the best version of ourselves, to take our craft to the next level, or to advance in leadership, that growth does not come without taking risks and facing failure along the

“Failure is an imperfect word because, if you take the time and have the patience to learn from your failures, then they aren’t failures any longer—they’re lessons.”

Fear is a natural human reaction to any action outside of our comfort zone. Expect it, acknowledge it, and lead through it.

“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’”

“When we treat man as he is, we make him worse than he is; when we treat him as if he already were what he potentially could be, we make him what he should be.”

become really clear about your vision—what it is you are trying to do, why you are doing it, how you will do it, and how you want to be throughout it.

Thriving doesn’t just happen. It is a result of intentional action, growth, development, and progress. Thriving is also more than just surviving. Thrive doesn’t just mean “to get by,” “to make it,” or “to maintain.” Thrive means to prosper, to flourish, and to develop well or vigorously. And lastly, thriving is exceedingly positive.

Vision is simply being able to see what could be.

Vision truly comes to life when people share those hopes and dreams and together forge aspirations of where the organization can and should go.

As leaders, vision is important, but we must ensure that we gather people around us who can bring the vision to life. Vision must be created, communicated, cared for by its people, and brought to completion.

“What has become

clear to you since we last met?”

But it takes being mindful about and intentional in creating our vision, bringing people together to embody our vision, and then living it out—in big ways and small ways . . . Every. Single. Day.

When we redirect our focus away from the chasm before us and just focus on the very next best step in front of us, we can make significant gains on our dreams.